Letters To The Editor

November 15, 2002

Bipartisan support for parks bond

On Election Day, Virginia's voters overwhelmingly supported the $119 million parks and natural areas bond. That two out of three voters said yes to the bond is a dramatic statement about the priority Virginians place on protecting open space and the Chesapeake Bay. The large voter approval margin is especially significant in light of the strong anti-tax efforts and votes of that day.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has long argued that the conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay is not a partisan issue and that natural resource protection is important to all Virginians, regardless of political persuasion.

We applaud the tremendous bipartisan support for the bonds, evidenced by the strong leadership of Gov. Mark Warner, Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine and Attorney General Jerry Kilgore. Their willingness to jointly promote this important conservation funding is an emphatic validation that open space and the bay are not partisan issues.

Roy A. Hoagland

Virginia Executive Director

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Richmond

Home care loan program

I would like to express my thanks regarding the wonderful Oct. 31 Daily Press article about the Scottish Rite Temple and their home care equipment loaner program ("Lending a hand; Masons provide medical equipment").

My parents were recently injured in an automobile accident and their upcoming surgery presented me with the problem of acquiring home care items during their convalescence. The timely story informed me of the wonderful public service offered to our community by the Scottish Rite Temple.

Keep up the good work informing us of programs that serve us all in the spirit of volunteerism and community involvement.

George Pond

Carrollton

Scouts and religion

Recently, the Boy Scouts of America decided an atheist couldn't be a Scout. They implied that each boy involved in their organization must worship a deity.

I realize that the Boy Scouts is a private organization and so reserve the right to set their own rules. However, nowhere in any of the Boy Scouts of America literature does it indicate that only practicing Baptists, Jews, Lutherans or what have you can join. In fact, the Boy Scouts state in writing more than once that they are proud to be a multi-dimensional organization. They have Scouts of every color, ethnic background, size and shape. There is literature available for Scouts with special needs, Scouts with handicaps, Scouts with specific religious preferences.

Why, then, are non-believing Scouts omitted? Does not believing in a religion recognized by the Boy Scouts of America mean that a boy therefore is not worthy? Is he somehow less of a Scout, less of a person?

I'm appalled and actually disgusted that in this country we still have religious prejudice. Our founding fathers, right here in Virginia, sought freedom from exactly this sort of persecution.

In this country we citizens have the right to practice our religion as we see fit. That includes not practicing any.

Patricia A. Drummond

Newport News

Good Samaritan

I would like to thank a gentleman named Kevin Sauer, owner of Para-dapt Service in Buckroe. Sauer tends to the needs of the disabled, supplying products and various services. I first met him and several of his employees when they equipped my van and home with the mobility products that I needed. I was very impressed with the workmanship and the knowledge of his entire staff.

The night of Nov. 5, which was a cold, rainy night, I suffered the misfortune of a power wheelchair breakdown. This may seem unimportant to an able-bodied person but, believe me, it could have been a nightmare as I was in my garage and was the only one home.

I was able to push my chair enough to get to the phone and call Sauer and in minutes he returned my call. I told him of my problem and in just a short time he was at my house to survey the problem and went to get a part and had me back in business.

This was all done after his shop was closed for the day and he still came to do all of this.

With all of the bad news that we read everyday, that a man who will go out of his way to help a customer in need should by all means be recognized.

Bill Green

Hampton

Retirees, education

The Oct. 31 editorial "Retirees, taxes" was an insult to many thousands of James City retirees and Supervisor Michael Brown.

We are not anti-education. Most of us are able to retire here because of our education and understand our country's future is dependent on educating our youngsters. And most of my neighbors are not millionaires and live in modest homes worth well under $500,000. But facts don't really interest you as your substantial exaggerations make for snappier copy.

What many of us want is reasonable dialogue with the Williamsburg/James City County School Board. Their current "my-way-or-the-highway" $45 million, 1,250 student high school -- and alternatives -- would be a good starting point. New Kent's failed plan was a $26 million, 1,000 student expandable facility.